gates



P. T. GATES.

SECTION-AL 1.1111111111. f

No. 801,980. 11818111811 July 15,1884.

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L C D I- jaap/7825?# UNITED STATESI PATENT OFFICE.

rHILnMoN TENNEY earns, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

bsEcTloNAL LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part o f Letters Patent No. 301,930, dated July 15, 1884.

Application filed May 22, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Beit known that I, PH'ILnMoN T. GATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York rand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvement/sin Sectional Ladders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it'appertains to make and u se the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe letters and iiguresV of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its `object to provide an improved and novel construction of sectional ladders, whereby two or more sections of different widths are adapted to be joined together to form a Acontinuous ladder'of any desired length, the abutting ends of one A"section being firmly interlocked with the ends of an adjacent section or sections, all as will be hereinafter fully described, and specically designated in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings,Figure l represents a front elevation of my improvements, showing a number of sections united together to form a continuous ladder; Fig. 2, a detail sectional view of the interlocking ends of two sections, and Figs. 3 t'o 5 detail views of my improvements.

Similar letters of reference occurring on-the several figures indicate corresponding parts.

In carrying. out my improvements the several sections of the ladder are constructed of different widths-that is to say, each alternate section being of a narrower width than the preceding one, orviee versa-the sides of thenarrow 'sections A iitting within the inner sides of the wider sections B,`as lfully shown in Fig. vl. The upper and lower ends of the sides C of each of these sections A B are provided with suitable slots, a, while the up# per and lower rounds of each vsection are so constructed as to provide an enlarged central portion or tread, b, terminating in` elongated ends c of a less diameter, leavinga shoulder or projection, d, a suitable distance from the inner sides of each section sufcient to pro-` vide a firm seat for the slotted ends of the sides of the next adjacent section orsections,

as fully. shown in Fig. 2. By means of this construction the ends of each sectionare securely held in the seat thusprovided, the projections d effectually preventing any lateral motion or slipping of the ends thus interlocked.- The one ends 'of the sides of each of the sections -A B are provided with suitable fastening devices for securing the said sections together. shown at Fig. 4, and is composed of a suitable spring, D, which is attached to both ends of .the sides, C-one on each sidethe free end of the said spring being provided with an inwardly-projecting end or arm, e, which projects over the slots ct in the ends of the sections, as shown.

Another form of spring or fastener is shown in Fig. 5, and is composed of a spring-loop,f,

the lower ends of which are secured to the projecting ends lapkover the spring on each side, as fully shown in Fig. 5. I- do not confine myself, however, to the springs or fasteners above described, as -it is obvious that equivalents or Inodications of the same may be employed with equal edect, 8 5

andsuch equivalents and modications are hereby contemplated by me.

In the operation of connecting two or more ofthe sections A B together the ends of the narrow sections A are adjusted within the'go sides, C, of theA wider sections B until the slots a in the ends of thesections A t snugly into the recesses on the first round in the wider section B, andthe slots a in the ends of the said wider or adjacent section B iit over the 9 5 projecting ends 'of the round in the narrow section A, as fully shown in Fig. l. The spring or fastener is then adjusted in place over the ends of theA said rounds to hold the several parts in their relative positions, as shown in Ioo the drawings. j

p By means of my improvements the several One form of fastening device is 60 sections are not only held together on a straight line with each other by means of thevinterlocked ends and the fastening devices, but the rest or recess formed on the inner ends of the rounds effectually prevent the sections from having a lateral motion when connected together, thereby enabling a great number of sections to be joined together to form staging, platforms, or a continuous ladder, without liability of the same breaking by lateral or si dewise pressure.

I am aware lthat sections of ladders have heretofore been made with slots in the ends of the side pieces in such manner that the slots of each section abut over the round of an adjacent section, and that said sections have been held together by suitable locking devices, and I do not therefore desire to claim, broadly, sueh construction; but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and useful- 1. The herein-described means for securing sections of ladders together, consisting in interlocking the ends of the narrow sections A nation with the wider sections B, having simi-y lar slots a, and rounds provided with recesses to receive the slotted ends of the said narrow sections A, and suitable spring fastening devices, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PHILEMON TENNEY GATES.

Vitnesses:

NVM. S. SMITH, WILLIAM E. BROCK. 

